…while stressing its in both countries’ interests to have good ties.

From the BBC: “We don’t intend to worsen relations between Japan and China,” he said, adding that both sides “need to share the recognition that having good relations is in the national interests of both countries”.

“China lacks this recognition a little bit. I want them to think anew about mutually beneficial strategic relations,” he said.

Acknowledging Mr Abe’s apparent victory, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency warned that an “economically weak and politically angry Japan will not only hurt the country, but also hurt the region and the world at large.